2005 Formula One World Championship Explained

The 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship was the 59th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 56th FIA Formula One World Championship, contested over a then-record 19 Grands Prix. It commenced on 6 March 2005 and ended 16 October.

Fernando Alonso and the Renault team won the World Drivers' and World Constructors' championships, ending five years of dominance by Michael Schumacher and Ferrari since 2000 and also ending nine years of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams dominance triopoly since 1996. Alonso's success made him the youngest champion in the history of the sport, a title he held until Lewis Hamilton's 2008 title success. Renault's win was their first as a constructor. Alonso started the season off strongly, winning three of the first four races and his title success was in little doubt. He sealed the title in Brazil with two races left after a controlled third-place finish. Alonso's championship was also the first for a Renault-powered driver since Jacques Villeneuve's championship in 1997.

Alonso and Renault had to contend with the pace of the resurgent McLaren team with lead driver Kimi Räikkönen outshining teammate Juan Pablo Montoya, who came highly regarded from his time at Williams. Räikkönen won seven races like Alonso but would have won more if not for a series of reliability issues, resulting in qualifying engine change penalties and retirements from the lead on three occasions. Nevertheless, Räikkönen grabbed the headlines winning from near the back of the grid in Japan, passing Alonso's Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella on the final lap. Reigning champions Michael Schumacher and Ferrari had a poor season by their standards, with Bridgestone unable to compete with Michelin after the tyre-change ban that only affected the 2005 season. Their only win came when Michelin deemed their own tyres unsafe after several incidents in the oval turn at Indianapolis. As a result, only the six Bridgestone cars took part. Schumacher just held on for third in the Drivers' Championship, in spite of the superior pace of McLaren, underlining the disappointing season Montoya had. The Colombian missed two races early on due to a tennis injury. He then won three races, showing glimpses of pace, but was well beaten by his teammate Räikkönen in the championship.

The 2005 season was the last before the Minardi, BAR and Jordan teams were taken over by new owners and changed names to Toro Rosso, Honda, and Midland respectively in the season. The former Jaguar team was sold from Ford to Red Bull GmbH and made its debut as Red Bull Racing during the 2005 season.

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers were competitors in the 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship.

EntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyreDriverRounds
Scuderia Ferrari MarlboroFerrariF2004M
F2005
Ferrari 053
Ferrari 055
1All
2 Rubens BarrichelloAll
Lucky Strike BAR HondaBAR-Honda007Honda RA005E3 Jenson Button1–4, 7–19
4 Takuma Sato1–4, 7–19
Anthony Davidson2
Mild Seven Renault F1 TeamRenaultR25Renault RS255 Fernando AlonsoAll
6 Giancarlo FisichellaAll
BMW WilliamsF1 TeamWilliams-BMWFW27BMW P84/57 Mark WebberAll
8 Nick Heidfeld1–15
Antônio Pizzonia15–19
Team McLaren MercedesMcLaren-MercedesMP4-20Mercedes FO110R9 Kimi RäikkönenAll
101–2, 5–19
Pedro de la Rosa3
Alexander Wurz4
Sauber PetronasSauber-PetronasC24Petronas 05A11 Jacques VilleneuveAll
12 Felipe MassaAll
Red Bull RacingRed Bull-CosworthRB1Cosworth TJ200514 David CoulthardAll
15 Christian Klien1–3, 8–19
Vitantonio Liuzzi4–7
Panasonic Toyota RacingToyotaTF105
TF105B
Toyota RVX-0516 Jarno TrulliAll
17 Ralf SchumacherAll
Ricardo Zonta9
Jordan Grand PrixJordan-ToyotaEJ15
EJ15B
Toyota RVX-0518 Tiago MonteiroAll
19 Narain KarthikeyanAll
Minardi F1 TeamMinardi-CosworthPS04B
PS05
Cosworth CK2004
Cosworth TJ2005
20 Patrick Friesacher1–11
Robert Doornbos12–19
21 Christijan AlbersAll
Sources:[1] [2]

Free practice drivers

Five constructors entered free practice only drivers over the course of the season. Sauber Petronas were also eligible to enter a free practice driver, but elected not to do so.

Constructor!colspan="4" scope="col" class="unsortable"
Practice drivers
No.Driver nameRounds
nowrapMcLarenMercedes35nowrap Pedro de la Rosa
Alexander Wurz
1–2, 4–5, 8–11, 14–15, 18–19
3, 6–7, 12–13, 16–17
nowrapRed BullCosworth37nowrap Vitantonio Liuzzi
Christian Klien
Scott Speed
1–3, 10–19
4–7
8–9
nowrapToyota38nowrap Ricardo Zonta
Olivier Panis
1–9, 11–19
10
nowrapJordanToyota39nowrap Robert Doornbos
Franck Montagny
Nicolas Kiesa
Sakon Yamamoto
1–6, 9–11
7
12–17, 19
18
nowrapMinardiCosworth40nowrap Chanoch Nissany
Enrico Toccacelo
13
14–16

Team changes

Driver changes

Mid-season changes

Season calendar

The 2005 Formula One calendar featured one new event, the Turkish Grand Prix.

rowspanRoundrowspanGrand PrixrowspanCircuitrowspanDate
1Australian Grand Prix Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne6 March
2Malaysian Grand Prix Sepang International Circuit, Kuala Lumpur20 March
3Bahrain Grand Prix Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir3 April
4San Marino Grand Prix Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Imola24 April
5Spanish Grand Prix Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló8 May
6Monaco Grand Prix Circuit de Monaco, Monte-Carlo22 May
7European Grand Prix Nürburgring, Nürburg29 May
8Canadian Grand Prix Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal12 June
9United States Grand Prix Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway19 June
10French Grand Prix Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours3 July
11British Grand Prix Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone10 July
12German Grand Prix Hockenheimring, Hockenheim24 July
13Hungarian Grand Prix Hungaroring, Mogyoród31 July
14Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul Park, Istanbul21 August
15Italian Grand Prix Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza4 September
16Belgian Grand Prix Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot11 September
17Brazilian Grand Prix Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo25 September
18Japanese Grand Prix Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka9 October
19Chinese Grand Prix Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai16 October
Sources:[3] [4]

Calendar changes

Regulation changes

For a time there existed a distinct possibility that some teams would be running three race cars per Grand Prix: fewer than 10 teams, or 20 cars, starting on the grid would have resulted in some teams running three cars, under a term in the Concorde Agreement. By the first round of the season, there were ten teams, as Red Bull completed their takeover of Jaguar and were ready to race in Australia. Minardi, which initially received an injunction allowing them to compete despite their cars' non-conformity to new 2005 technical regulations, later modified their cars to adhere to 2005 regulations.

Technical regulations

Sporting regulations

Season report

The most-noted aspect of the season was Ferrari's lack of pace caused mainly by a new rule prohibiting tyre changes during the course of a race. The Bridgestone tyres used by Ferrari could not find the right balance between performance and reliability, leaving the Michelin runners to battle for race victories.[8] Further rule changes emphasised the new focus on reliability, with engines required to last two Grands Prix without being changed.

Renault appeared the fastest team in pre-season testing and it was no surprise they dominated the early fly-away rounds. Giancarlo Fisichella won the season opener in Australia before teammate Alonso demonstrated his title credentials with a series of victories in Malaysia, Bahrain and San Marino. As the season progressed the McLarens of Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya became increasingly competitive and by the latter stages of the season the McLaren was generally considered the faster package. However, constant technical failures meant neither the team nor Räikkönen were able to translate their speed into championship success.

Alonso secured his Drivers' Championship with a third-place finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite both him and Räikkönen having six victories to their name at this point in the season, Alonso's greater consistency meant he was able to claim the championship with two rounds to spare. The Constructors' Championship was secured by Renault at the final race, with Alonso's seventh victory of the year. This gave Renault their first championship as a constructor (after only previously triumphing as an engine supplier) despite winning two fewer races than McLaren.

Ferrari finished third in the Constructors' Championship with only one win, at the United States Grand Prix, a race that was only contested by the six Bridgestone cars after Michelin declared their tyres unsafe to run in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's unique banked corner.[9]

After a high-flying 2004 season the most conspicuous drop in performance after Ferrari was BAR-Honda, who were banned from two races after scrutineers in San Marino discovered a hidden fuel compartment that allowed their cars to run underweight. They were beaten in the championship by Williams, whose engine partner BMW had announced they were leaving to join Sauber in June, and Toyota, who achieved 5 podium finishes and were only beaten to third in the championship because of Ferrari's 1–2 in Indianapolis.

All the teams scored world championship points over the course of the season, Minardi scoring rare points in their final season courtesy of being able to run in the US race. The 2005 season also saw nine different drivers score a pole position - setting a new record for the number of different polesitters in a season eclipsing the previous record of eight different polesitters set in the 1968 season. This tally of different polesitters remains a record as of the end of the 2022 championship.[10]

Results and standings

The 2005 Formula One calendar featured a new event in Turkey, just miles from the Europe–Asia dividing line. The newly built circuit in Istanbul joined the 2004 newcomers Bahrain and China. The 2005 season witnessed two of the hottest Grands Prix ever: the track temperature at the beginning of the Malaysian event was 51 °C (124 °F), while in Bahrain the mercury soared past 56 °C (133 °F).

Grands Prix

RoundGrand Prix
1 Australian Grand Prix Giancarlo Fisichella Fernando Alonso Giancarlo Fisichella RenaultReport
2 Malaysian Grand Prix Fernando Alonso Kimi Räikkönen Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
3 Bahrain Grand Prix Fernando Alonso Pedro de la Rosa Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
4 San Marino Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
5 Spanish Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen Giancarlo Fisichella Kimi RäikkönenReport
6 Monaco Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen Michael Schumacher Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-MercedesReport
7 European Grand Prix Nick Heidfeld Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
8 Canadian Grand Prix Jenson Button Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-MercedesReport
9 Jarno Trulli Michael Schumacher FerrariReport
10 French Grand Prix Fernando Alonso Kimi Räikkönen Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
11 British Grand Prix Fernando Alonso Kimi Räikkönen Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-MercedesReport
12 German Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
13 Hungarian Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-MercedesReport
14 Turkish Grand Prix Kimi Räikkönen Juan Pablo Montoya Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-MercedesReport
15 Italian Grand Prix Juan Pablo Montoya Kimi Räikkönen Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-MercedesReport
16 Belgian Grand Prix Juan Pablo Montoya Ralf Schumacher Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-MercedesReport
17 Brazilian Grand Prix Fernando Alonso Kimi Räikkönen Juan Pablo Montoya McLaren-MercedesReport
18 Japanese Grand Prix Ralf Schumacher Kimi Räikkönen Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-MercedesReport
19 Chinese Grand Prix Fernando Alonso Kimi Räikkönen Fernando Alonso RenaultReport
Source:[11]

Scoring system

Points were awarded to the top eight classified finishers.[12]

Position 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6th  7th  8th 
Points108654321

World Drivers' Championship standings

DriverAUS
MAL
BHR
SMR
ESP
MON
EUR
CAN
USA
FRA
GBR
GER
HUN
TUR
ITA
BEL
BRA
JPN
CHN
Points
1 Fernando Alonso124RetDNS1112223133
2 Kimi Räikkönen8311DNS1112
3Ret7RetRet52365Ret10Ret47Ret62
4 Juan Pablo Montoya64757DSQDNSRet12Ret1RetRet60
5 Giancarlo FisichellaRetRetRet126RetDNS644943Ret52458
6 Ralf Schumacher1254946Ret6WD78631268345
7 Jarno Trulli92253108Ret5914465Ret13Ret1543
8 Rubens Barrichello2Ret9Ret98332971010101256111238
9 Jenson Button11RetRetDSQ10DNS453558375837
10 Mark Webber5Ret6763Ret5DNS1211NC7Ret144NC4736
11 Nick HeidfeldRet3Ret6102RetDNS1412116RetWD28
12 David Coulthard468118Ret47DNS10137Ret715RetRet6924
13 Felipe Massa1010710119144DNSRet10814Ret9101110611
14 Jacques Villeneuve13Ret114Ret11139DNS81415Ret111161212109
15 Christian Klien78DNS8DNSRet159Ret81399959
16 Tiago Monteiro161210131213151031317171315178Ret13117
17 Alexander Wurz36
18 Narain Karthikeyan1511Ret1213Ret16Ret415Ret16121420111515Ret5
19 Christijan AlbersRet1313RetRet1417115Ret1813NCRet19121416164
20 Pedro de la Rosa4
21 Patrick Friesacher17Ret12RetRetRet18Ret6Ret193
22 Antônio Pizzonia715RetRet132
23 Takuma Sato14WDRetDSQ12RetDNS1116128916Ret10DSQRet1
24 Vitantonio Liuzzi8RetRet91
25<-- Please do not change this to a Dutch flag - Doornbos raced in F1 under the flag of Monaco in 2005 - see https://web.archive.org/web/20060314163635/http://www.fia.com/sport/Championships/F1/F1_Classifications/2005/Championship/2005.html --> Robert Doornbos18Ret131813Ret14140
Anthony DavidsonRet0
Ricardo ZontaDNS0
DriverAUS
MAL
BHR
SMR
ESP
MON
EUR
CAN
USA
FRA
GBR
GER
HUN
TUR
ITA
BEL
BRA
JPN
CHN
Points
Source:[13]

Notes:

World Constructors' Championship standings

ConstructorAUS
MAL
BHR
SMR
ESP
MON
EUR
CAN
USA
FRA
GBR
GER
HUN
TUR
ITA
BEL
BRA
JPN
CHN
Points
1 Renault5124RetDNS1112223191
6RetRetRet126RetDNS644943Ret524
298311DNS1182
10643757DSQDNSRet12Ret1RetRet
3 Ferrari1Ret7RetRet52365Ret10Ret47Ret100
22Ret9Ret983329710101012561112
4 Toyota1692253108Ret5914465Ret13Ret1588
171254946Ret6DNS786312683
5 Williams-BMW75Ret6763Ret5DNS1211NC7Ret144NC4766
8Ret3Ret6102RetDNS1412116Ret715RetRet13
6 BAR-Honda311RetRetDSQ10DNS453558375838
414RetRetDSQ12RetDNS1116128916Ret10DSQRet
7 Red Bull-Cosworth14468118Ret47DNS10137Ret715RetRet6934
1578DNS8RetRet98DNSRet159Ret8139995
8 Sauber-Petronas1113Ret114Ret11139DNS81415Ret1111612121020
121010710119144DNSRet10814Ret91011106
9 Jordan-Toyota18161210131213151031317171315178Ret131112
191511Ret1213Ret16Ret415Ret16121420111515Ret
10 Minardi-Cosworth2017Ret12RetRetRet18Ret6Ret1918Ret131813Ret14147
21Ret1313RetRet1417115Ret1813NCRet1912141616
ConstructorAUS
MAL
BHR
SMR
ESP
MON
EUR
CAN
USA
FRA
GBR
GER
HUN
TUR
ITA
BEL
BRA
JPN
CHN
Points
Source:

Notes:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2005 Formula One season entry list. https://web.archive.org/web/20050305110144/http://www.fia.com/sport/Championships/F1/F1_Entry_List/Season_2005/entry.html. 19 June 2017. 5 March 2005. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. dead. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: 2005 Formula One season entry list. https://web.archive.org/web/20060216225728/http://www.fia.com/sport/Championships/F1/F1_Entry_List/Season_2005/entry.html. 19 June 2017. 16 February 2006. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. dead. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Formula One Calendar 2005. Motorsport Stats. 4 April 2022.
  4. Web site: 2005. ChicaneF1. 4 April 2022.
  5. News: Formula One rule changes for 2005. Rediff India Abroad. Reuters. 2021-04-20. Tyres must last for qualifying and the race. The reason being that harder, and therefore more durable, tyres will reduce cornering speeds..
  6. Web site: 2004 Formula One Technical Regulations . https://web.archive.org/web/20170307191111/http://jomenvisst.de/fia/2004TechnicalRegulations/612539919__F1_Tech_Reg_a.pdf . 7 March 2017 . live . 2019-08-05 .
  7. Web site: 2005 Formula One Technical Regulations . https://web.archive.org/web/20160506014623/http://jomenvisst.de/fia/2005TechnicalRegulations/1368441606__2005F1TechnicalRegulations2.pdf . 6 May 2016 . live . 2019-08-05 .
  8. Web site: Andrew Benson . Andrew Benson: Alonso's straight fight with Schumacher, Bahrain 2006 . BBC . 8 November 2012.
  9. News: Seven teams boycott US Grand Prix . BBC News . 19 June 2005 . 3 October 2006.
  10. Web site: Stats F1- Pole Positions-Different driver over a year. . www.statsf1.com . Stats F1 . 13 January 2023.
  11. Web site: Formula One Results 2005. Motorsport Stats. 4 April 2022.
  12. Book: Jones, Bruce. https://archive.org/details/2006fiaformulaon0000jone/page/28/mode/2up. Grand Prix 2006. Final Results 2005. Carlton Books. 2006. 116–117. 978-1-84442-341-5. London, England. registration. Internet Archive.
  13. Web site: 2005 FIA Formula One World Championship Classifications. https://web.archive.org/web/20060314163635/http://www.fia.com/sport/Championships/F1/F1_Classifications/2005/Championship/2005.html. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 19 June 2017. 14 March 2006. dead.